On the Middle East with Ian Black + Lebanon | The Guardianhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east+lebanon
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Hezbollah shows strain of Syria warhttp://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2013/nov/01/syria-lebanon-iran-hezbollah-israel
<strong>Ian Black</strong> writes: The 30-year-old 'axis of resistance' based on Iran is still alive and supporting Bashar al-Assad<p>Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah, sounds more troubled than defiant when he talks about the war in Syria these days. This week he publicly lambasted Saudi Arabia – backing the rebels who are fighting Bashar al-Assad - for blocking a political solution to the crisis at the proposed Geneva II peace conference. </p><p>But Hezbollah's decision to throw its full military weight behind the Syrian president has also been a highly significant factor in the conflict, peaking with decisive fighting at Qusair in the spring. Thousands of its men have been deployed in Damascus, Deraa, Homs and Aleppo. Casualty figures are estimated at around 200 killed. The organization is described as &quot;fatigued and over-stretched.&quot; Earlier this month some 1200 Shia fighters are said to have been withdrawn. Blowback has come to Lebanon too, with car bombs in Beirut's Shia southern suburbs. Hezbollah needs to avoid clashes provoked by Lebanese Sunnis which would force it to pull back from Syria and fight at home.</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2013/nov/01/syria-lebanon-iran-hezbollah-israel">Continue reading...</a>Middle East and North AfricaLebanonSyriaHezbollahIsraelFri, 01 Nov 2013 14:09:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2013/nov/01/syria-lebanon-iran-hezbollah-israelAFP/Getty ImagesHezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah said in a TV address that Syria's friends would not let it 'fall in the hands of America'. Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesAFP/Getty ImagesHezbollah's Hassan Nasrallah said in a TV address that Syria's friends would not let it 'fall in the hands of America'. Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesIan Black2013-11-01T14:09:00ZArabs are 'losing faith' in America: lessons from Lebanon 1982http://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2013/jan/04/lebanon-israel-palestinians-thatcher-reagan
Newly-declassified secret British government documents shed light on a key moment in the Middle East and the elusive search for an Israeli-Palestinian peace settlement<p>It's reasonable to describe journalism as the &quot;first rough draft of history,&quot; and always interesting, when secret government documents are released, to see how far that early version stands the test of time. The Falklands conflict with Argentina dominated the headlines about British state papers declassified from 1982 – the traditional three decades after the event. But those dealing with that year's Lebanon war provide some fascinating and still relevant insights.<br /> <br />The war began in a sense in London, where, on June 3, a Palestinian gunman shot the Israeli ambassador, Shlomo Argov. It was clear from the start that the hit team was not from the PLO but from the dissident Iraqi-backed outfit run by Abu Nidal, Yasser Arafat's sworn enemy. Israel's prime minister, Menachem Begin, egged on by his defence minister, Ariel Sharon, went to war against the PLO in Lebanon anyway. &quot;Abu Nidal, Abu Shmidal,&quot; another Israeli minister said.</p><p>The <a href="http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/SearchUI/s/res?_q=PREM%2019/824">documents generated at the time</a> by British embassies, the foreign office and Downing Street provide evidence of continuity and change at a crucial moment.</p><p>&quot;Much of the Arab world sincerely believes that the United States administration had connived in, if not positively blessed, the Israeli invasion. Many of the moderate Arab leaders, including the Jordanians, Saudis and Egyptians are dismayed that the United States has failed to use its leverage over Israel effectively to deter new aggression and to prevent occupation of more Arab land. The perception that the United States has acquiesced in the Israeli action will be seen as evidence of double standards when the administration is condemning the use of force to settle disputes in other parts of the world.</p><p>&quot;It will undermine faith in United States ability and willingness to defend other moderate Arab states from Iranian as well as Israeli aggression. It has all but destroyed, for the time being, Arab faith in the willingness of the United States to use its leverage with Israel to obtain a solution to the Palestinian problem which takes account of Arab needs.&quot;</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2013/jan/04/lebanon-israel-palestinians-thatcher-reagan">Continue reading...</a>Middle East and North AfricaLebanonIsraelPalestinian territoriesNational ArchivesMargaret ThatcherYasser ArafatFri, 04 Jan 2013 13:15:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/on-the-middle-east/2013/jan/04/lebanon-israel-palestinians-thatcher-reaganDavid Rubinger/Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageIsraeli tank in Beirut in 1982. Photograph: David Rubinger/Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageDavid Rubinger/Time & Life Pictures/Getty ImageIsraeli tank in Beirut in 1982. Photograph: David Rubinger/Time &amp; Life Pictures/Getty ImageIan Black2013-01-04T13:15:00ZHomeland: does it give an accurate picture of Middle East politics?http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/oct/25/homeland-accurate-picture-middle-east-politics
The hit drama show is generally well researched and, on the whole, plausible. But cognoscenti might well ask why there are posters in Hebrew in what is supposed to be Lebanon<p>(Spoiler alert: this blog includes references to episode three of the second season of Homeland, in line with UK broadcast on Channel 4. Please do not post details of further episodes if you have seen them).</p><p>Previously, on Homeland: US marine Nick Brody was freed from captivity in Afghanistan. Later we learn that he witnessed the carnage resulting from a secret US drone strike in Iraq, where he was being held by Abu Nazir, a charismatic terrorist leader with Saudi links who bears some resemblance to Osama bin Laden. In the new series, the action has shifted to Lebanon, where recovering bipolar CIA agent Carrie has contacted a trusted source with extraordinary intelligence. Riveted? Impressed? Or maybe just confused?</p> <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/oct/25/homeland-accurate-picture-middle-east-politics">Continue reading...</a>HomelandTelevisionDramaIslamReligionWorld newsIsraelMiddle East and North AfricaLebanonUS television industryMediaUS televisionTelevision & radioThu, 25 Oct 2012 12:11:10 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2012/oct/25/homeland-accurate-picture-middle-east-politicsRonen Akerman/APClaire Danes as Carrie in 'Beirut". But why is the Coca Cola poster on the right in Hebrew? Photograph: Ronen Akerman/APRonen Akerman/APClaire Danes as Carrie in 'Beirut". But why is the Coca Cola poster on the right in Hebrew? Photograph: Ronen Akerman/APIan Black2012-10-25T12:11:10Z